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Sep 10 Norton not seeking re-election to the House; considering run for mayor

Rep. Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, announced on Thursday that she will not be seeking re-election to the Minnesota House in 2016.

“After 10 years of service in the House of Representatives I have determined that the time is right for me to move on to other endeavors," Rep. Norton said in a statement released by her office. "It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of my community at the Capitol."

Norton, who was first elected in 2006, played an integral role in passing the Destination Medical Center legislation. She has also held leadership positions in her caucus, including assistant majority and minority leader.

She was both the first Democrat and woman to represent her district. A self-proclaimed moderate, she ran unopposed in the last election cycle.

“I love finding solutions to problems facing our community and state, and found a comfortable place in St. Paul working on policy issues that I had a passion for - especially in areas such as education, children’s health and workforce development," she said.

Norton told the Post-Bulletin she is "frustrated" with partisan politics and is giving "fairly serious consideration" to running for Rochester mayor in 2018. The position of mayor is technically a part-time, nonpartisan position.

Mayor Ardell Brede, age 76, has been in office since 2003. In an interview earlier this year with the Med City Beat, Brede said he not yet made up his mind on whether to seek a fifth consecutive term.

Norton says she is considering running for #rochmn mayor in 2018 but will only run if Mayor Ardell Brede decides not to.